Questions to Ask Your Vet about Your Dog’s Cancer Treatment

Let’s face it, dealing with cancer is scary.  The whole idea of what stage of cancer your dog might be in, whether or not to treat, what treatments are available, cost, prognosis; well, to say it can be overwhelming is an understatement.  When dealing with any medical issue, it’s a good idea to try and think of some questions before you see your vet and write them down, so you don’t forget anything.

7 Questions to Ask Your Vet About Your Dog’s Cancer Treatments

by Andrew Lewis, healthy-k9.com

Initially, you will need to decide whether you would like your dog to even go through cancer treatment.  There are many factors that play into this decision:

• Consider the stage and grade of the disease.
• Understand the emotional roller coaster that comes with treatment for both you and your dog.
• Think about the age of your dog and how much time he has left with you.  Should he be an older animal, you might want to take into consideration his quality of life.
• It sounds petty when compared with the life of a beloved animal, but you must consider finances.  Even with pet insurance, canine cancer treatment can be quite expensive.

If you have chosen treatment for your dog, there are some further questions you must be prepared to answer.  These include:

1. What is the best possible outcome of treatment?
2. How often is that outcome achieved in dogs of the same age and breed?
3. How invasive and traumatic is the treatment?
4. What are the most common side effects?
5. What is the worst possible outcome including adverse reactions?
6. If the treatment fails, what is the backup plan of coping?
7. What are the associated long-term costs?

Once you have reached your decision, take confidence in it and do not second-guess yourself.

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